NHI comment re Delayed Discharges in Irish Hospitals

16th August 2017

The crisis in hospital discharges could be alleviated by a better synergy between the HSE and nursing homes. Over 10,000 beds have been available within private and voluntary nursing homes across the country over the first eight months of 2017 to support acute hospitals in facilitating the discharge of older persons back into the community.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO stated: “During the course of the first eight months of 2017, over 10,000 beds within nursing homes have been available to provide specialist step-down or long-term care to older persons who have completed their care within our acute hospitals. The challenges presented for acute hospitals are complex and multiple, with differing types of care suited to meet patient care requirements. However, it is critical to recognise nursing homes are essential in enabling acute hospitals facilitate timely discharges back into the community. Dedicated teams, including nurses and carers, are placed within our nursing homes to meet a range of older person short- or long-stay healthcare needs. At any given period, about three in five people who are delayed discharged are awaiting long-stay nursing care.

“It is essential all hospital managements are empowered to use the essential role nursing homes can play within the surrounding communities in alleviating pressures and overcrowding. With the Winter period fast approaching, we reiterate our call for Ministers Harris and Daly to engage with NHI and our Members to ensure the vital role they fulfil in providing step-down care is fully realised. We must plan now for the forthcoming pressures and the State must ensure it maximises the potential offered by these specialist healthcare providers within our local communities.”